Category: Technology

How to Use Ebates to Earn Cash Back in 3 Easy Steps

Happy Thursday! Today I will be talking about the website Ebates, and how to use it to earn cash back on your purchases. I’ve used Ebates for about two and a half years now, and I’ve had a great experience. I often recommend it to all of you in blog posts, but I recently had a request for an Ebates tutorial. Ebates is really easy to use, but I’ve put together a post that demonstrates signing up and using the website in three easy steps. I will begin by explaining a bit more about Ebates, and then jump right into the tutorial!

How to Use Ebates in 3 Easy Steps!

Let’s start out with a simple question – what is Ebates? Ebates is a website that allows you to earn cash back on many of your online and in-store purchases. I know Ebates sounds too good to be true. In fact, I did not sign up for years because I was scared it was a scam. Now that I’ve been a longtime user of the site, I’m happy to share this is the real deal! Essentially, Ebates uses affiliate marketing to earn a commission for every purchase made through its site, and then shares a percentage of that commission back with each user. Think of when you buy a diamond ring at the jewelry store. The jeweler makes a commission on your purchase, right? Now, imagine if that jeweler gave you a small percentage of his commission to thank you for shopping with him. That is the role Ebates plays in your shopping process. I know this may sound a bit confusing, but I have never had any issues with Ebates. I find it to be a secure website, and I absolutely love how I can save money online while using this service!

STEP 1 – SIGN UP FOR EBATES

Ebates Sign-Up Screen

Now it’s time for my easy tutorial on using Ebates! Step one is signing up for your free account on the website. When you sign up using my referral link HERE you will get a $10 bonus upon making your first qualifying purchase through the site. What I love about the Ebates sign-up process is that it is super simple. All you need to do is enter your email address and create a password. Later on you can input more information onto your account page so Ebates will know where to send your cash back, but signing up only takes a minute of your time!

STEP 2 – SEARCH THE STORE YOU WANT TO SHOP Ebates Home Screen

The only thing you need to remember when using Ebates is that you must always begin your shopping on the Ebates website. This definitely takes getting used to, but eventually you will get in the habit of always going to Ebates first. Let’s say I’m shopping at Sephora. The first thing I do is go to Ebates before I go to the Sephora website. In the image above you will see my Ebates home screen. All I need to do is type ‘Sephora’ into the search bar at the top and hit enter.

STEP 3 – CLICK ‘SHOP NOW’ AND START SHOPPING!

Ebates Store Landing PageOnce you type the store into the search bar, you will be redirected to the store landing page. Here is a picture of what the Sephora page looks like as an example. Each store page has two main sections. On the right you will see all of the current coupons and deals each store has to offer. I love that Ebates always lists out the available coupon codes for you so you don’t need to do an online search! On the left you will see the current cash back offer from the store and a button that says “Shop Now.” All you need to do is hit that “Shop Now” button, and Ebates will redirect you to the store from which you want to shop! You will know it is working when you get the ticket screen. An example of that screen is posted below for you to see.

When you see this screen, you are all set! Ebates is now tracking your purchases! I typically get a notification that the cash back has been deposited in my Ebates account once my order is complete, but it takes a bit longer for some stores. Nonetheless, you will get a payment every quarter. It’s always so much fun to get that bit of extra money!

BONUS TIP! DOUBLE CASH BACK OFFERS

Ebates Double Cash Back StoresI also wanted to share a bonus tip with you so you can learn how to earn even more cash back on your purchases. Every day Ebates will feature different stores that are double cash back, and sometimes even more! I always try to plan out my purchases to maximize the amount of cash back I receive. I recommend checking out the Double Cash Back tab every day to see which stores Ebates typically highlights. For example, Sephora is doubled to 8% cash back every once in a while. If I know I need something at Sephora, I’ll try to wait until it is double. There are even a few times a year, such as Black Friday, when a ton of stores are double cash back. That’s the perfect time to shop!

All in all, I hope this post helped you learn more about Ebates and the basic ways to use it. Ebates has expanded a lot in the years I’ve been using it, so there are many more features on the website that I didn’t touch on today. If you have any further questions, please leave them in a comment below and I will be happy to help you! With the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to sign up to Ebates to start earning cash back. Please use my referral link HERE to sign up today!

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m excited to let you all in on a few Instagram secrets. I love using Instagram, and I’ve attempted to complete a number of Instagram challenges over the past few years. Instagram challenges come in a few varieties, and today I’m going to focus on the monthly challenge. The monthly challenge is just what it sounds like – you have to post a picture every day for an entire month. I’ve tried book challenges, planner challenges, and I think even a beauty challenge at some point. It wasn’t until last month that I was finally successful. Let me share with you my three easy tips for winning an Instagram challenge!

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!

1. Find the Right Challenge for You

This is the most important tip that I have to share with you today! The reason I was so unsuccessful in past challenges is because I wasn’t finding the right challenge for me. I would post a few pictures, but then I wouldn’t have a photo for a certain day’s prompt. That would lead me to give up completely. Thus, what you should do is search for a challenge using a hashtag like #[month]bookchallenge, #[month]plannerchallenge, etc. Here are the results I got when I searched for #Februarybookchallenge:

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!As you can see, there are four different challenges that pop up just in this part of my search. Take the time to read through each challenge. If you can think of a photo you’d take for each day, that’s the challenge for you! The moral of the story is to make sure you pick a challenge that fits you the best.

2. Plan Ahead

This second step might be considered cheating, but I find it essential. I recommend planning ahead by taking your photos in advance. Every Monday I would take my photos for the coming week and edit them that same day. That way I could easily upload every day without having to worry about taking the photo. If the challenge in which you are participating requires a time sensitive photo, such as your latest book purchase or that day’s coloring page, set a reminder in your phone so you don’t forget!

3. Make it Routine

How to Win an Instagram Challenge in 3 Easy Steps!

Last but not least, make uploading your daily photo part of your routine. Pick a time every day to upload so you’ll remember to do so. For me it was first thing in the morning. I always browse my email and social media when I wake up, so I added my Instagram upload to that routine. Perhaps you want to upload on your lunch break or before you go to bed – it’s up to you and what fits your lifestyle! If you need a physical reminder, try planner stickers! Pictured above are stickers from Oh, Hello Stationery, Co. They are designed to track any habit, and uploading to Instagram can be one! Shop Oh, Hello HERE and use code POLISH15 to save 15% off your order!

That wraps up my three easy tips for winning an Instagram Challenge! I hope you found it helpful whether you are a challenge newbie or veteran. Instagram Challenges are great because you can easily find like-minded people through the challenge. I participated in the #BNRBookChallenge16 in January on my Bookstagram account HERE, and I got 45 new followers throughout the month! Plus, I was encouraged to practice my photography and think outside the box. I highly recommend trying an Instagram Challenge if you have not already!

#PolishlandPresents | My Best Buy Gift List for the #HintingSeason

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Happy Monday! I’ve shared with you some of my favorite beauty and skincare gift ideas thus far during #PolishlandPresents, but I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that electronics are always at the top of many wish lists this time of year. Today I’m excited to tell you about some awesome items that are found at Best Buy. I’ve always enjoyed shopping at Best Buy for electronics because of the store’s great customer service and affordable prices (I don’t hunt for bargains just in the beauty department, you know!). Let me tell you about some of the top items on my holiday gift list and why you should check them out, too!

Xbox One

Starting at $349.99 [BUY]

Whether you’re a diehard gamer or simply looking for the next all-in-one device, the Xbox One is the perfect gift for the entire family. You’ll want this console because it has exclusive titles such as Call of Duty, NBA 2K15, Just Dance 15, and more. That means you can only play these sought after games if you have the Xbox One! Plus, the Xbox One goes beyond just gaming to enable you to watch TV shows and movies through your favorite apps. How fun does this console sound?! You can even choose a specific bundle from Best Buy to get added savings.

JBL Speakers and Headphones

Starting at $59.99 [BUY]

If you’re shopping for a music lover like me, JBL has some awesome goodies to gift! First, the JBL Charge 2 is a portable bluetooth speaker with twin passive radiators for a deep bass. This speaker also has an outstanding battery life and allows up to three different users to play their own playlists on a single speaker, making this perfect for households with a variety of music tastes. Next, the JBL Flip 2 speaker includes the unique SoundClear for echo and noise cancellation. It also has a microphone system so you can pick up calls on the speaker. That makes it great for those who work at home! Finally, the JBL Reflect Earbud Headphones are really cool. They have a sweat proof ergonomic design with built-in magnets to keep your buds on standby without loose cables. Enjoy your music for 5 hours with the rechargeable battery! It’s time to turn in those crappy headphones that came with your smartphone, friends!

Garmin and TomTom

Starting at $79.99 [BUY]

Of course, some of the best holiday gifts when it comes to electronics is a brand new GPS. Speaking as someone who easily gets lost, I think a GPS is a caring and practical present! Best Buy has some great new models from which to choose this season. All feature bluetooth connectivity that allows for hands-free calling, traffic and weather updates, and more. Definitely make sure to check out the Garmin 52LM and Garmin 2597LMT, and also the TomTom Go 50s (pictured above). If you’re wondering about which model is best, use the Compare feature on Best Buy’s website to see a complete listing of each model’s features. It’s really helpful and easy to use!

Those are all of the new electronics I have to share with you from Best Buy, but the best part is you can find all sorts of other gift ideas at this one store. If you’re struggling to find a present for someone on your list, head into Best Buy and you’re sure to find innovative products at great prices. Definitely let me know what you’ve been wishing for this #HintingSeason in the comments, and stay tuned for more #PolishlandPresents posts as we near Christmas!